He didn't begin running competitively until about four years ago, and now he uses carbon fiber prosthetics that are shaped like the letter J, and on them he has set Paralympic world records in the 100, 200 and 400 meters.
But Mr Richards failed to kick his habit despite managing to set up his own repairs garage in 2009 - called J Richards Pitstop Perfectionist, in Dumballs Road.
Four consecutive Sundays have been dedicated to d.j.s playing the music of Kraftwerk over a surround-sound system set up in a geodesic dome in the courtyard of MOMA PS1, in Queens.